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Ramblings and Ruminations: Old Ghost Bridge in Lincoln, Illinois
Have you ever taken a trip (drive or other forms of travel) where you set off for one kind of adventure and end up having a completely DIFFERENT kind?
Well, this is one of those stories. I set off for Central Illinois with my regular ghost adventure buddy, John Hoblit. We were returning from something (neither of us remembers exactly what) and decided to stop at Lincoln, Illinois where John’s father’s family hails from.
John had mentioned this road that leads to an abandoned bridge called “The Ghost Bridge”. Well, I, of course was up for that! John had done some research through a cousin of his named Leigh Henson and Troy Taylor’s website that talked about this bridge that was
located between two old cemeteries.
We arrive and find the gate that leads down this old road. ( The following picture is from John’s cousin, Leigh Henson). These are the kinds of places I LIVE for.
It is about a 10 minute walk (taking time to slap the mosquitoes!) the road winds through some pretty dense trees with a few clearings that show the fields that surround the area.
(This picture is from Leigh Henson’s site as well.)
So we come around the corner and there it is…the last remnants of this old bridge. Read the rest of this entry
Ramblings and Ruminations: “tales of the weird and peculiar”
When one thinks of the library, they often call to mind long stacks of colorful bindings where tall, thin, darkly dressed women glide through putting away books and shushing patrons. That has not been my experience over the last 15 years of library work. (For those of you who have met me in person, you know I am neither tall nor thin and I am usually the one being shushed!)
I am very fortunate to wear many hats at the library and one reputation that I have inadvertently earned is the collector of the odd and unusual. The goddesses that work the Local History room come across some of these stories while researching things for people and always share them with me. I have tucked them away in a file but have decided that this would be a good place to share these tales of the weird and peculiar.
This story came from a Register Gazette article that appeared on August 22, 1908. The headline reads: Mystery at Winnebago. It seems that on this Tuesday morning, Sexton Joseph Dunkley and his assistant James Bouton were hard at work preparing a place to lay the newly departed Mrs. Bradshaw. They were both surprised and a little startled when they stuck the shovel in the dirt and heard a metallic clunking sound. They were only about a foot down so they continued to dig and unearthed the remains of what proved to be a corroded cracker tin such as the one pictured below:
One can only imagine the thoughts that were running through their minds as they pulled the tarnished box from the dirt. The article described the box “badly decayed only one side being in any state of preservation.”
Their greatest fears were realized when they opened the box and there looking back at them were the empty eye sockets of not one but three skulls!
The box also contained the “major portions of the larger bones of the human body, all of which were the bones of adult persons.” As if that wasn’t enough, there was also a black string necktie which it mentions is the “only clothing found”.
There was no more mentioned in this article- nothing to tell us what was done with the bones, where it was thought they might be from, or who they might have been. The last line only yielded another mystery. It mentioned “The Reflector suggests it is not likely to prove another Gunness affair.”
There was stated in such a manner that it implied that this was a name that the reader should know. This intrigued me enough that I again turned to my Local History sages where they declared that the name Gunness refers to a woman of the time period who is suspected of being a female serial killer!
Apparently, this Belle Gunness (who was later found to really be Brynhild Paulsdatter Størseth), was believed to have killed over 40 men, women and children (including her own!) for money. Belle was at first believed to have been killed herself by a handy man that worked for her. The bodies of her two children and a decapitated woman’s corpse were found in the ashes of their LaPorte, Indiana home in February 1908. The handy man was found guilty of the arson but not the murder since he claimed that the body was not Belle Guinness but a woman that she had poisoned and put there as a “body double”, even though the woman was shorter and much thinner.
I will definitely be writing an article in the future to fill you in on all the sordid details! This, ladies and gentlemen, is why I find history so fascinating!
Kathi Kresol is the organizer of the Haunted Rockford Tours and Paranormal events through the Rockford Public Library. She is also a team member of the Forest City Paranormal Society. You may contact her at kkresol@rockfordpubliclibrary.org or 815-987-6682 for information on events or investigations.
Ramblings & Ruminations: Irish Legend Pub and Restaurant
Irish Legend Pub and Restaurant
8933 S. Archer Avenue
Willow Springs, Illinois
This restaurant was called “The Stag’s Head Inn” when I visited it. I attended a séance with the Chicago area psychic Ed Shanahan. It was a great evening and I would definitely suggest attending one of Ed’s events if you get the chance. I have had him come to Rockford to hold séances for the Rockford Public Library.
The history of the Irish legend is long and violent, though it did not start out that way. Ed mentions in his article about the restaurant (www.hauntedamericantours.com) that Archer Avenue is said to be an old Native American trail. It also mentioned that during the “1890’s and early 1900’s Indian burial mounds were discovered throughout the villagers and destroyed by the early residents in the village.”
Settlers came to this area around 1854. The settlement grew even bigger when first the railroads and then canals were built. The bigger population brought bigger problems and soon gambling, alcohol, and prostitutes made their way into the once peaceful village.
Prohibition came to the United States and that brought a whole new breed of outlaw to the Willow Springs area. The village’s close proximity to Chicago made it appealing to the mobs and speakeasys popped up all over the area.
The Irish Legend claims to have been a speakeasy in its day. Many men breathed their last in here, lured by the promise of liquor and the company of fallen woman. The woman themselves led a tortured and desperate life- many fell victim to addiction themselves as they tried to escape their painful circumstances.
One of the stories tells of a forbidden love between one of the girls and a barkeep. The manager of the building found out about the two lovers and lured the unsuspecting bar tender to the basement stairs where he bashed his head in.
Another story which may or may not be the same woman -tells of the horrible death of one of the girls. She was supposedly beaten and wrapped in a carpet and set in the “dining area” for a few hours until it was dark enough to remove her body. Meanwhile, her body fluids seeped out onto the floor and the stain is still visible even today.
This is a picture of Ed Shanahan in the living room area on the second floor of the Irish legend.
As if the other stories are not bad enough, this picture shows the kitchen area including the closet where abortions were forced on the girls who had the extremely bad luck of conceiving while working at the house.
My visit to the Irish Legend was a very interesting one. I have to say that it really brought home to me that these ghost stories are not just entertainment. They are the stories of real people who were actualy a lot like us. They had hopes and dreams and those dreams were shattered by addiction or bad choices or by simply trusting the wrong person.
So just remember when you are out there searching for the next good scare- be careful and be respectful- because the ghost story I might be telling…could be yours.
Kathi Kresol is the organizer of the Haunted Rockford Tours and Paranormal events through the Rockford Public Library. She is also a team member of the Forest City Paranormal Society. You may contact her at kkresol@rockfordpubliclibrary.org or 815-987-6682 for information on events or investigations.
Our first Rockford Public Library Paranormal Night!
The Rockford Public Library held its first Paranormal night event. We visited the Roadhouse restaurant in Oregon,Illinois. The wonderful evening started off with a great buffet dinner. Mike Arians, the owner, and his gracious staff were very welcoming. After dinner, the group gathered in the large dining area where Mark Dorsett shared his impressions of the ghosts that still linger at this historic place. The evening was topped off with Mike sharing his moving story into his quest to search for the true killer of a young girl, Mary Jane Reed and her beau, Stan Skridla. There were around 40 people who attended this event hosted by Kathi Kresol.
To read more about this intriguing story vist the Roadhouse website at http://www.rhouse.org
The Rockford Public Library will be holding monthly Paranormal Nights. For more information contact Kathi Kresol by phone at 815-987-6682 or by email at kkresol@rockfordpubliclibrary.org.
A Great Big Thanks to all who attended this first event!
From Cindy at the Gun Club
I wanted to write something about the loss of the Gun Club but then Cindy sent us this. It says it all better than I ever could. I know everyone joins me in saying that Cindy and Frank are in our thoughts and we send them our best.
Dearest Guests,
By now, most of you have heard our beloved Gun Club has burned to the ground. The first call to the fire department came in at 5:13 AM on Saturday, August 7th. Frank & I received a call at 5:50 AM, waking us from a dead-sleep. We were there by 6:00 AM (having run every stop light along the way). The Rock County Sheriffs Department said the Gun Club was ‘engulfed’ in flames. We were hoping the person on the other end of the line might be ‘exaggerating’. Unfortunately, she was not.
We had to park at the top of the hill on Colley Road, & were met by 2 staff members who had already heard it on the police scanner. Frank & I were allowed to walk down the hill. Halfway down, our knees buckled. We saw the main dining room, entryway, & atrium up in flames. Over the next several hours, our family, friends, & Gun Club staff watched with us in disbelief. Eventually, we all realized we were watching the end of our lives, as we knew it.
We have been there everyday since, hoping to find out what happened. We are still far too emotional to go into further details of the last few days. But I will tell you this. Frank & I could not have made it through the last 4 days without the support of our children, our grandchildren, my sister, Connie, our wonderful extended family; the Gun Club Staff, and all of you, our friends, who have stopped by or called & cried with us, or sent emails & cards. We always knew the Gun Club was a very special place. Frank & I have loved it for so many years, first as guests, & then as owners. However, we did not realize just how incredibly strong & deep our love for this wonderful landmark was until it was gone. We are still trying to get our heads wrapped around what has happened. Our biggest concern is for our staff, our musicians, our loyal guests, & the City of Beloit. This community has truly lost a treasure, & a big part of its history.
We know many of you have said ‘rebuild’. While it’s far too early to think of it, we want to let you know it is not out of the question. But our Gun Club, your Gun Club, Beloit’s Gun Club as we know it, is impossible to replace. However, we have learned through this ordeal that the true ‘SPIRIT’ of the Gun Club is still very much alive!
Frank & I would like to thank all of you, and ask you to keep our wonderful Gun Club staff in your thoughts & prayers. They left on Friday night with their jobs, and woke up Saturday morning ‘unemployed’.
In the meantime, on behalf of the Dajka family & the Gun Club Staff, we want you to know it has been a pleasure to be your hosts at the Gun Club Restaurant over the last 8 ½ years.
P. S. Hold on to your Gun Club Royalty Rewards Certificates, Awards Checks & Gift Certificates…you never know what could happen when we are able to sort through all of this.
With our love,
Frank & Cindy Dajka
Proud Owners of The Gun Club Restaurant
Beloit, Wisconsin
Haunted Rockford Tour
I just wanted to tell you guys about something that happened on the tour recently. It was this June and we were finishing up withthe tour and I was seeing people off the bus. I usually use the time to hand out flyers, talk about upcoming events and get feedback. One woman came up and introduced herself. It was her first time on the tour and she was sharing what she liked. She liked the fact that it was free, that we have a psychic that comes along, that we got to go into places, that I had the Forest City Paranormal group there and then she said she really liked the “reinactor” that I had. I said,”Excuse me?” and she went on to say that it was a cool touch to have the “older woman dressed in a white gown sitting on the bench by the brdige”. I wish you could have seen her face when I told her that I didn’t have anyone dressed in a long white gown by the bridge. It was PRICELESS! I have offered these tours for almost 6 years now and that was the first time that had occured! It was awesome!
It has been great that the Forest City group joined me for the tours this summer. I really don’t know how I would have handled the groups without your help. You guys are fantastic!
